Fluid storage apparatus



Oct. 1, 1946; J. H. WIGGINS FLUID STORAGE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan; 27 1944 INVENTOR;

OHN .W/ GINS T TORNEY J. H. WIGGINS FLUID STORAGE APPARATUS z sneetsshu 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1944 uliiiil-i INVENTOR, JOHN H. WIGGINS BY ATToRNEY Patented Oct. 1 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,408,539 FLUID STORAGEAPPARATUS John H. Wiggins, Chicago, Ill. Application January 27, 1944, Serial No. 519,957

This invention relates to fluid storage apparatus of the general type or kind disclosed in my U. S. Patents Nos. 2,102,299, dated December 14, 1937, and 2,337,010, dated December 14, 1943, and in my pending application Serial No. 363,835, filed November 4, 1940. V v

One object of my present invention is to provide an apparatus of the general type or kind mentioned, whose co-acting parts are constructed or arranged in a novel manner, that decreases the dead space of the apparatus when the storage chamber is empty.

Another object is tosimplify the construction, reduce the cost, and facilitate the inspection and repair of such an apparatus.

Another object is to provide a novel means for sealing the cables, chains or equivalent devices of the counterweighting mechanism for the piston, at the point or points where said cables pass through the wall of the storage chamber.

And still another object of my invention is to provide a novel means for lubricating parts of the counterweighting mechanism of the apparatus, that are apt to create an objectionable noise, or to wear excessively, if the are not'kept in a properly lubricated condition. Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out. I

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical transverse sectional view of a gas holder constructed in accordance with my present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of said apparatus.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the pulley housings, said view being taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal-sectional View of one of the cable stufiing boxes.

Briefly described, my present invention consists of a fluid storage apparatus, that comprises a container provided with a roof, 2. piston or equivalent member, that is adapted to move in one direction so as to increase the volume of the storage chamber of the apparatus, and move in the opposite direction so as to reduce the volume of said storage chamber, a counter- I weighting mechanism for said piston comprising a weight or weights, a cable, chain or equivalent device attached to the counterweight and to the piston and arranged so as to travel over a pulley or wheel, a tubular support for the roof of the 12 Claims. (01. 48178) container that also serves as a housing for the weight of the counterweighting mechanism, and a housing or housings for the pulley or pulleys of the counterweighting mechanism, mounted on the top side of said roof at such a point that the load exerted on said pulley or pulleys is borne by or transmitted directly to the tubular roof support and counterweight housing. The said combined roof support and counterweight housmg is preferably arranged at the center of the container and is attached to the roof in such a way. that theinterior of said combined roof support and weight housing is separated from the storage space or chamber of the apparatus. I also prefer to provide means for preventing gases from escaping from the storage chamber into the pulley housing or housings, and thence, finding its way into the vertically-disposed, tubular member at the center of the container which houses the counterweight and also serves, as a support for the roof of the container.

Arranging the pulley housing or housings on the exterior of the storage chamber, preferably on the top side of the roof, as previously ex plained, reduces the dead space when the storage chamber is empty, and makes it possible to design or construct the piston andthe top wall of th storage chamber so that they are in nested relationship, or in approximately touching contact with each other, when the piston is at the end of its upward stroke, or, in other words, when the apparatus is empty. In the particular form of my invention herein illustrated, a reduction in the dead space is also obtained by separating or cutting off the counterweight housing from the storage chamber and constructing the pulley housing ,or housings so that gases cannot circulate from the storage chamber into the pulley housings and thence into the tubular roof supporting. member at' the center of the apparatus-that serves as a housing for the weight of the piston counterweighting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates a vertically disposed, cylindrical, gastight shell that forms the side wall of the gas storage space X of the apparatus, said shell A being sustained or supported in an elevated position in any suitable way, as, for example, by a continuation or extension A of the shell A, that rests upon'a'ba'se' or" foundation I, as shown in Figure 1. The extension or continuation A of the shell A need not be gas-tight. In instances where the side wall of the'apparatus is formed by a continuous, vertically-disposed shell: constituting the two portions A and A, previously referred to, it is preferable to form ventilating openings I in the base or foundation I of the apparatus. The bottom wall of the storage chamber X is formed by a Vertically-movable member or piston B, preferably of substantially cone shape or frusto-conical form, and the top wall of said storage chamber is formed by a roof preferably of substantially cone shape, that is connected by a gas-tight joint to the top edge of the side wall shell A. A vertically-disposed, tubular member D, preferably of cylindrical shape in cross section, is erected on the base I at the center of the apparatus, and projects upwardly through a center opening in the piston B, so as to serve as a center support for the roof C and also act as a housing for a counterweight E that is suspended from cables, chains, or equivalent devices 2, that lead upwardly from the piston B and travel over wheels or pulleys 3 located above the roof C of the apparatus, the upper end of the center tubular member D being connected by a gas-tight joint to the roof C.

The pulleys 3, of which there may be any preferred number, are herein illustrated as consisting of four pulleys, and are preferably arranged in individual housings F mounted on or attached to the roof C in such a way that the load imposed on said pulleys by the counterweight E, the cables 2, and the piston B, is borne by or transmitted directly to the tubular roof support and counterweight housing D. A flexible sealing element G is attached to the peripheral edge of the piston and to the lower end of the side wall A of the storage chamber, so as to seal the space or joint between said parts, and a similar flexible sealing element H is attached to the central portion of the piston and to the center tubular member D, so as to seal the opening in the piston, up through which said tubular member D extends, said sealing elements being of such shape and dimensions, that when gases are admitted to the storage chamber, through a pipe 4 at the upper end of chamber, the piston B can move downwardly into close proximity to the base I of the apparatus, and when gases or air are withdrawn from the storage chamber to purge or empty the same, the piston B can move upwardly into close or intimate relationship with the roof C, as shown in bro-ken lines in Figure 1. In order to provide access to the center tubular member D, said member is provided at its upper end with a manhole 2I, equipped with a loose, removable cover, and

provided at its lower end with a manhole 22 that is preferably open to the atmosphere.

Preferably, the pulley housings F are of such construction and are combined with the roof C in such a way that they constitute liquid sealed passages, through which the cables 2 travel while passing from the cable openings in the top wall of the storage chamber to the cable openings in the top wall of the tubular counterweight housing D.

In order to prevent gases from passing from the storage chamber X into the pulley housings F, and thence escaping into the counterweight housing D, I provide each of the pulley housings with stuffing boxes I, located at the points where the cables 2 enter and leave the pulley housing. I also prefer to construct each pulley housin so that the parts associated with same, which are subjected to wear, abrasion or friction, are kept in a thoroughly lubricated condition. Obviously,

the pulley housings can be constructed in various ways, without departing from the spirit of my invention, but I prefer to use the construction the cable 2.

herein illustrated, on account of the fact that it is easy to build; it is easy to install; it keeps the cables, the cable grooves in the pulleys, and the bearings for the pulleys in a properly lubricated condition; it automatically supplies a lubricating medium to the stufling boxes for the cables; and it will remain in an operative condition for a long period of time, without requiring replenishing of the lubricating medium.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6 of the drawings, each of the pulley housings F comprises a receptacle 5 that is adapted to serve as a reservoir for a body of lubricating medium 1 in which the lower end portion of the pulley 3 is submerged. The

pulley-3 is completely housed by a removable cover 6 that fits loosely in the receptacle 5, and which is sealed by the liquid lubricating medium 11 in said receptacle. Usually, the cover 6 will be provided adjacent its lower end with a laterallyprojecting flange I that rests upon the top edge of the reservoir 5, and which, if desired, may be provided with a downwardly-projecting lip, as shown in Figure 3, so as to serve as an efficient rain shield for'the joint between the receptacle 5 and cover 6. The bottom portion of the receptacle 5 is permanently attached to the roof C of the apparatus, preferably by welding, and said receptacle 5 is so arranged with relation to the counterweight housing D, that the central portion of the pulley housing is in approximately longitudinal alignment with the tubular side wall portion of the counterweight housing D, as shown in Figure 3. The axle or shaft 8 of the pulley 3 turns in bearings 9 carried by parallel supports It that project upwardly from the bottom of the reservoir 5, and the stufling boxes I, previously referred to, are attached to the bottom of the reservoir 5 in alignment with the groove in the pulley that receives the cable 2. Each of the stuffing boxes I is preferably of the construction shown in Figure 6, and comprises a tubular outer portion I I, provided at its upper end with a substantially cone-shaped part I2, having an opening or hole in same that serves as a guideway for A washer or wiper I3, preferably constructed of felt, is attached to the upper end portion of the stuffing box I, in any suitable way, as, for example, by a clamping wire I4 that holds it in overlapping relationship with the .coneshaped portion I2 of the stuffing box, so as to snugly embrace the cable, and thus'prevent air or gases from passing in either direction through the joint between the cable and the felt portion I3 of the stufiing box that embraces the cable. In addition to sealing the cable 2, the washer'I3 acts as a stripping device, which effectively removes excess oil on the surface of the cable. The oil removed from the cable or stripped off of same by the washer I3, drains down the inner side of the cone-shaped portion I2 of the stufling box, into the annular space between the tubular body portion II of the stufiing box and a sleeve I5 arranged inside of said body portion 1 I, as shown in Figure 6, there being one or more discharge ports I6 at the lower end of the annular space between the parts II and I5, through which the collected or recovered oil can return to the reservoir 5. The groove or surface in the'pulley 3 that is engaged by the cable 2, is kept properly lubricated by members on the pulley 3 that become saturated with the oil y in the reservoir 5 and then apply such oil to the cable 2 or to the cable groove in the pulley 3. Thus, as shown in the drawings, the pulley 3 is provided at its periphery with two ring-shaped members I'I, constructed of felt-'01" other suitable m'aterial, --that are retained in position tynampiag rings-is, which are secured to the-pulley3 b'y 'faste'fling devices- 19, the said clamping rings- 18 having flanged portions at: their peripheral edgeswhich cause the oil applying members I? to be main tained in overlapping relationship with the cable groovein thepulley, as shown in Figure-'5. In

order that oil will be supplied automatically "to by the oil reservoirs 5, are then set in position on :the roof so that the load which the pulleys 3 carry will pass directly down through the tubular side wall portion of said center member D. Holes are then formed in the roof for the portions of the cables leading from the storage chamber X, and leading into the upper end of the tubular center member D, after which the oil reservoirs of the pulley housings are attached to the roof preferably by welding. The cables 2, with the felt washers l3 positioned on same, are then strung over the pulleys 3, and thereafter, said washers are secured by wires M, or in any other suitable way, to the tubular portions H of the cable stufling boxes in the oil reservoirs. After the oil reservoirs have been filled with oil, the covers 6 for'said reservoirs are set in position, with their lower end portions submerged in the oil 11 in the reservoirs. When the apparatus is in use, the rotation of the pulleys cause the felt wipers I! to become saturated with oil, which is continuously applied to the,

cables and/or to the cable grooves in the pulleys, thereby insuring that said parts will be kept in a properly lubricated condition. The felt washers 13 that surround the cables at the points where the cables lead into and out of the cable housings, are kept saturated with oil by the coating of oil on the cables; and hence, said devices effectively seal the cables and prevent gases from passing from the storage chamber into the pulley housings and contaminating the lubricating oil in said housings. As previously explained, the cable sealing devices l3 also function as stripping devices to remove excess oil from the cables and return such excess oil to the source of supply in the reservoirs.

It is desirable to purge all gas from a gas holder when it is first filled. Also when the holder is being repaired, it is necessary to purge it of gas. In my improved apparatus, when it is desired to purge the storage chamber of gas' other than air, I pull a vacuum on the gas storage space, thereby causing the piston to be drawn into such intimate relationship with the roof, that the actual volume, left in the working portion of the holder, will be nearly zero, inasmuch as the center tubular member D in which the counterweight is housed is practically cut off from the rest of the holder (as far as gas transfer is concerned), by the oil saturated sealing devices l3 that surround the cables. In the case of purging air on the first filling, the main body will be practically purged by pulling a vacuum on the gas ='-'s terage space, as previously}explained. In

leys are kept properly lubricated byfai ample supply of 'oilthat is used over a'nd over again,

5 and't'heou re ervoirs o the pulley housings are made large enough so that one filling or oil will last-for along period the cilia" the'jrese'rvoirs being prevented from 'contaminationby the gases in the st'orage chamber by the sealing devices of the cable stuffing "boxes in the oil reservoirs. In case i-tis desirable-or necessary to inspect the pulleys of: the counterweighting mechanism, this can be done'iquickly and easily, simply by lift- .ing off'the removable :coversof the 'pulley hous 'lngs which normally are sealed by the oil in the reservoirsof theapulleyahousings.

h'I-Iaving thus ":describe'd-rmy invention, :what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: x

1. In a fluid storage apparatus, the combination of a countainer provided with a roof that constitutes the top wall of the storage chamber of the apparatus, a vertically-movable member in said container which forms the bottom wall of the storage chamber and which is adapted to move upwardly into approximately nested relationship or touching contact with said roof at the end of the upward stroke of said verticallymovable member, a counter-weighting mechanism for, said vertically-movable member including a weight, a cable or the like attached to the weight and to said vertically-movable member and extending upwardly from said member through an opening in the roof, a pulley over which said cable travels, a vertically-disposed, tubular member projecting upwardly through the container and attached to the roof so as to constitute a support for the roof, the weight of said counterweighting mechanism being housed by said tubular member, and a housing for the pulley arranged outside of the storage chamber above and on the top side of the roof of the container.

2. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1', in which said roof and vertically-movable member are substantially cone-shaped.

3. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, in which said pulley housing is provided with sealing devices for the portions of the cable leading from the storage chamber into said housing and leading from said housing into the tubular member that supports the roof and houses the counterweight.

4. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, in which said pulley housing constitutes a covered passageway for a portion of the cable extending between a cable opening in the top of the storage chamber and a cable opening in the upper end portion of the counterweight housing and roof support.

5. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, in which said pulley housing comprises a removable cover, and a body of sealing liquid in which the edge portion of said cover is submerged.

6. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, in which said pulley housing comprises a removable, liquid-sealed cover, and also an oilsaturated sealing device that surrounds the cable 7 adjacent the point where said cable leads into said housing from the storage chamber.

7. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, provided with means for supplying a lubricant to the cable and/or to the portion of the pulley contacted by the cable.

y. mprovedapbaratu :tne cable s and the pul- 2,4os,ssc

8. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 7 1, in which said pulley housing contains a liquid lubricating medium, and means carried by the pulley for automatically applying said lubricating medium to the cable and/or to the surface of the pulley contacted by the cable.

9. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, in which said pulley housing comprises fibrous sealing devices that surround the cable at the points where said cable enters and leaves said housing, and means for keeping the portion of said cable inside of said housing coated with oil.

10. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, provided with means for applying lubricating oil to the cable and/or to the surface of the pulley contacted by thecable, and sealing de- .vices for the cable having means for stripping off excess oil from the cable and returning such excess-oil to a point where it can be again utilized to lubricate the cable. i

11. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, in which the pulley housing contains a bath of oil through which the pulley travels, and oilsaturated sealing devices in said housing that surround the cable adjacent the points where the cable enters and leaves said housing.

12. An apparatus of the kind described in claim 1, in which the pulley housing comprises a removable cover, a'body' of oil for sealing said cover, and means for utilizing said oil to lubricate the cable and the bearing for the axle or shaft of the pulley.

,- JOHN H; WIGGINS. 

